Watch: Incredible top achieving matriculant says he wants to be president [video]

This top achieving matriculant tells his incredible story, how he kept motivated for success and what he wants to do next.

The top achievers of the Matric class of 2017 are being deservedly celebrated as they share their varying stories with South Africans across the country. One 18-year-old with special needs has shown just how incredible all of these kids are.

News24 spoke to Tumelo Mashigo at a special event celebrating the country’s top achievers. As the second-best performing learner with special needs, Mashigo has possibly the biggest plans one can make for their future: He wants to be the President of South Africa, and he is determined to make it happen.

Mashigo was born with phocomelia. This means he had a birth defect which saw his hands and feet attached to shortened arms and legs. Growing up different meant that he often had more than just academic success to contend with.

“I did not have enough friends because many kids were scared … but these last few years have been great for me,” he said.

“In primary school I was a victim of bullying, I was bullied a lot. I just took that as an opportunity to improve in other sections like school work,” he said.

Now being labelled as an academic golden child, Mashigo has plans to study International Relations to help him eventually reach his goal of becoming state president.

“I want to make a difference, that’s why I chose international relations. The bigger plan is to become president of South Africa,” he told News24

Mashigo was deputy head boy at Muriel Brand School in Brakpan Johannesburg.

In a video interview from the event, you can hear the young genius paint a clearer picture of where he comes from and how he dealt with his challenges before swiftly moving past them.

From all of us at The South African, we salute you Tumelo Mashigo, or should we say, Mr President.